The nominations for this year's Olivier Awards have been announced with The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, which has recently transferred to London's Apollo Theatre from the National Theatre, receiving eight including Best Director (Marianne Elliott), Best Actor (Luke Treadaway) and Best New Play (Simon Stephens's adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel).
Closely following with seven nominations is Top Hat, and with six Sweeney Todd which transferred to the West End from Chichester Festival Theatre.
Director-choreographer Gillian Lynne CBE and award–winning playwright and novelist Michael Frayn are to receive Special Awards for outstanding contribution to theatre.
The shortlist for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award are long–running musicals Billy Elliot The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked and relative newbie Matilda The Musical.
The Olivier Awards ceremony on Sunday 28 April will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 from 6:30PM with highlights televised on ITV later in the evening. Enthusiasts can join in the fun from four o'clock in London's Covent Garden Piazza where live performances and other entertainments are being staged.
Four panels, made up of professionals and members of the public, decide the winners across the four categories of Theatre, Opera, Dance and Affiliates. Only the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award is voted for by the public.
The full list of nominations is available at www.olivierawards.com